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Television
+ The only thing that was missing was a little guy yelling, ''Da plane!
Da plane!'' On April 2, in an effort to move his network out of fourth
place, NBC Entertainment co-chair Ben Silverman unveiled his 2008 - 09
schedule — his first since joining the network last May — and it's heavy on
fantasy and escapist fare. The lineup, which was announced a full month
ahead of the other four broadcasters, is a far cry from the network's
scattershot approach of recent years. A remake of '80s hit Knight Rider,
a retelling of Robinson Crusoe, and an update on the King David story
called Kings, with Deadwood's Ian McShane (there's a name we wouldn't
have seen on NBC just a few years back), will kick off Silverman's
ambitious goal of airing as much original programming as possible. Other
new series for fall include My Own Worst Enemy, with Christian Slater as a secret suburban spy; a horror anthology called Fear Itself;
and a remake of the Aussie comedy Kath & Kim, starring Molly Shannon and
Selma Blair. ''I'm thinking they are looking at synergy, shows they can
use over all their different outlets,'' says Shari Anne Brill, an analyst
for Carat USA. ''[NBC Universal] will be able to recycle these new shows
on networks like Sci Fi and USA.'' As for returning shows, expect new
seasons of Chuck, Life, American Gladiators, The Biggest Loser, and ER,
as well as 30 Rock, Law & Order: SVU, Heroes, and The Office. ''It's
certainly the right step,'' says Richard Gagnon of the ad firm Draftfcb,
of NBC's 52-week programming strategy. ''It doesn't make sense anymore to
put all your best shows on at the same time.''
Music
+ Country legend, American Idol mentor...Broadway baby? Dolly Parton just punched the clock again for 9 to 5, the upcoming musical
based on the 1980 comedy that made her a movie star. Figuring she might
have more in her than just the smash title song, the producers asked
Parton to write an entire score. ''I'm not all that familiar with
Broadway,'' she tells EW, ''but I wrote for two weeks and came up with 30
songs. They're keeping 85 percent of what I wrote.'' Directed by Joe
Mantello (Wicked), 9 to 5 premieres in L.A. in September before its
early-2009 Broadway bow. And no one's more eager than star Allison
Janney (The West Wing), who waited until after a recent workshop to say
yes. (She'll play the Lily Tomlin role.) ''I wanted to see if I felt
confident singing.'' So is she a belter, after all? ''I totally am!'' she
says, grinning. ''You are gonna hear me — and you're gonna enjoy it.''
Movies
+ It seems there are advantages to playing Meredith's spurned lover on
Grey's Anatomy: Chris O'Donnell — who hasn't headlined a major film
since 2000's Vertical Limit — just landed a role opposite Mark Wahlbergand Mila Kunis in Max Payne, Twentieth Century Fox's live-action
adaptation of Rockstar Games' shoot-'em-up game. Payne is the story of a
cop (Wahlberg), haunted by the death of his family, who's hot on the
heels of a series of new murders. O'Donnell will play executive Jason
Colvin. John Moore (Behind Enemy Lines) is directing the crime noir
drama, which is currently shooting in Toronto, from a script by newcomer
Beau Thorne.
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